Curtain fixture



May 3, 193s. J. H. BQYE 2,115,798

CURTAIN FIXTURE Filed Jan. 30, 1956 Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CURTAIN FIXTURE James H. Boye, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 30, 1936, Serial No. 61,454

'l Claims.

This invention relates to the art of curtain fixtures, and has reference more particularly to xtures of the crane type. In order to make such fixtures adjustable as to length, a practice has arisen oi equipping the main crane bar with an extension arm in telescopic engagement therewith. And since windows served by crane fixtures vary in width, usually from 28 to 60 inches, it has heretofore been the general practice among manufacturers to provide extensible cranes in at least two sizes, one having a reach of from 14 to 21 inches, and the other a reach of from 18 to 30 inches. These sizes of windows and cranes are given, of course, only as examples, and may vary according to other and different window widths. This practice has required the retailer to carry two stocks of the same style, occasionally causing mistakes in the filling of an order; and furthermore, in the case of two part extensible cranes the extension of the crane to its maximum length left it weak and unable to carry the curtain load without bending or sagging, thus creating an unsightly eifect.

Accordingly, one important object of this invention has been to provide an extensible crane capable of adjustment between the minimum reach of the small size heretofore used and the maximum reach of the large size heretofore used, thus relieving the dealer of the necessity of carrying two sizes of the same style in stock and the confusion sometimes occurring in filling orders; and another important object has been to provide a crane having a wide range of adjustment as to length that would avoid the weakness referred to and possess ample strength and rigidity to carry the curtain load without bending or sagging. These objects are attained primarily by employing a three part telescopic structure wherein the parts are of such form and structure as to afford maximum mutual reinforcement and rigidity.

Other objects of the invention are; to provide three piece telescopic crane wherein the fricticnal grip of the inner or intermediate extension member on the crane bar will be greater than the frictional grip of the outer extension member on the inner or intermediate member, so as to permit the drawing out of the outer member without disturbing the position of the inner member; to provide new and improved means for yieldably locking and frictionizing the inner extension member on. the crane bar; to provide new and improved means for frictionizing the outer extension member on the inner extension member; to provide means for preventing the inner end of the outer extension member from overrunning the inner end of the inner extension member; to provide means for limiting the movement of the inner curtain ring on the crane and preventing it from striking the crane supporting bracket; to provide improved means for removably locking the outer 5 curtain ring at the outer end portion of the crane.

Still other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying draW- 10 ing in which I have illustrated a practical embodiment of the invention well adapted to effectuate the stated purposes and objects thereof, and wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the upper right 15 hand portion of a window frame showing one of a mating pair of my improved cranes mounted thereon, and also showing the upper portion of a curtain suspended on the crane.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section on 20 line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section on line: 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. "I is a transverse vertical section on line 30 1 1 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal longitudinal section through telescoped parts of the outer and inner extension sleeves, showing a modication of the frictionizing means.

Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section on line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawing, Il! designates a bracket of horizontal U-shape that is attached to the window frame at its upper and lower ends, the 40 upper and lower limbs thereof being apertured to receive the pivot shank II of the main crane bar I2. This is preferably a solid metal bar of rectangular form in cross section as shown in Fig. 6. Telescoping over the bar I2 is an inner extension 45 arm in the form of a sleeve I3, at the inner end of the botto-m Wall of which is an indented spring tongue I4 that, in the innermost position of the sleeve I3 is adapted to snap into a recess I5 in the bottom wall of the bar I2, whereby the sleeve 50 I3 is yieldably locked in its innermost position. Telescoping over the inner sleeve i3 is an outer extension arm in the form of a sleeve I B. The top walls of the sleeves I3 and I6 are longitudinally slotted as shown in Figs. 2 and '7.

When the inner sleeve I3 is drawn outwardly, the tongue I4 frictionizes on the bottom of the bar I 2, and to create a similar friction between the outer and inner sleeves the side walls of the inner sleeve are formed with outwardly pressed protuberances II (Fig. 7) that, under the natural spring of the side walls of the inner sleeve create a frictional drag on the side walls of the outer sleeve. In lieu of the protuberances I'I, the side walls of the inner sleeve may be formed with opposed slots I8 (Figs. 8 and 9) through which extend outwardly bent portions I 9 of a spring 20 that is housed within the inner sleeve, the protuberances I9 having a frictional bearing on the side walls of the outer sleeve.

When the tongue I4 is engaged with the recess I5 as shown in Fig. 3, the grip of the inner sleeve on the main crane bar is greater than the grip of the outer sleeve on the inner sleeve, so that, when the parts are fully telescoped, and the outer sleeve is drawn outwardly it slides over the .inner sleeve without drawing the latter outwardly, and if an extension of the crane to an extent requiring both sleeves is desired, the inner sleeve can then be drawn outwardly to the required extent, as is indicated in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 4, in the bottom wall of the outer sleeve IG is an upwardly struck lug 2l which acts as a stop against the outer end of the inner sleeve i3 to prevent the inner end of the outer sleeve from overrunning the inner end of the inner sleeve. rIhe primary reason for this stop lug is to prevent the inner end of the outer slee-ve from striking the base or shank of an ornament, hereinafter referred to, that is mounted on top of the main bar I2 adjacent to the pivot of the latter, since, repeated striking of the inner end of the outer sleeve against the ornament would in time form an inwardly directed lip or 'our that would collide with the inner end of the inner sleeve and thus prevent the outward movement of the outer sleeve on the inner sleeve.

22 designates a cast metal ornament that is mounted on the main bar I2 near its pivot, and 23 designates a smaller ornament that is mounted on the outer end of the outer sleeve; such ornaments being customarily used on the prevailing style of curtain cranes. As shown best in Fig. 4, the ornament 23 is cast with a shank 2d that is driven into the outer end of the outer sleeve I5, and on the upper side of the shank 24 is an upstanding lug 25 that projects through and above the slot in the top wall of the sleeve IS and serves to catch and detain the last curtain ring 25 when the curtain is fully stretched as shown in Fig. 1. Of course, a similar lug might be formed on the sleeve I6 itself, if desired. The larger ornament 22 is mounted on the crane bar I2 by means designed to very securely hold it in place and maintain it in the vertical plane of the bar. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the top surface of the bar I 2 is formed with a longitudinal shallow V-shaped groove 21, and the base oi the ornament is formed with a longitudinal tongue 23 that seats in the groove 27. Through aligned holes 29 and 3% in the bar and shank of the ornament is inserted a hot rivet 3|, the two ends of which are then mashed down to form heads, as shown in Fig. 3. When the rivet cools it draws the two parts together at the tongue and groove joint and makes a very solid, durable construction, such that it is impossible for theornament to turn on the pivot and thus get out of the vertical plane of the crane bar.

To still further maintain `the correct position of the ornament on the bar and also provide a limiting stop for the inner curtain ring 26', I form a shallow recess 32 in the top of the bar I2 rearwardly or inwardly of the rivet 3l, and this recess 32 seats the lower end of a depending limb 33 on the lower edge of the ornament, so that the curtain ring 26 is confined between the shank and the limb 33 of the ornament against sliding in either direction over the crane bar as well as against striking against the bracket I0.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that my invention provides a curtain crane adapted to serve relatively narrow and wide windows and all sizes between the narrowest and the widest by merely extending or contracting the telesooping members of the crane, and the described devices for restraining the outer and inner rings of the curtain from sliding movement on the crane cause the curtain itself to automatically follow the adjustments of the crane. If the length of crane desired for a window can be served by the crane bar and the outer sleeve, the latter may be merely drawn out to the extent required without disturbing the inner or yieldably locked position of the inner sleeve; whereas, if the window width requires the use of both of the extension sleeves, the outer sleeve may be first drawn out to approximately the extent indicated in Fig. l, and the additional length required is obtained by then drawing out the inner sleeve. The construction is strong and sturdy and well adapted to maintain the two cranes in accurate horizontal alignment, and manifestly the curtain may be readily adjusted to overhang more or less of the outer side portions of the window by simply raising the outer ring 26 over the'y stop lug 25 and then sliding the curtain rings along the crane.

While I have herein shown and described practical mechanical embodiments of the several novel structural features of the crane that have, in practice, been found to satisfactorily eiectuate the stated purposes and objects thereof, it is manifest that detail changes and modications may be resorted to within the principle of the invention, and hence I reserve all such variations,

, modifications and mechanical equivalents as fall within the spirit and purview of the claims.

I claim:

1. An extensible curtain crane, comprising a bar having a pivot member at one end thereof, an inner sleeve telescoping over said bar, an outer sleeve telescoping over said inner sleeve, means creating a frictional drag of said inner sleeve on said bar, and means creating a lesser frictional drag of said outer sleeve on said inner sleeve.

2. In an extensible curtain crane, the combination with a crane bar having a recess in a wall thereof, of an extension sleeve telescoping over said bar, said sleeve having an integral spring tongue engaged with said recess in the fully telescoped position of said sleeve to yieldably lock said sleeve against outward movement, said tongue exerting a frictional drag on said bar when said sleeve is moved outwardly.

3. In an extensible curtain crane, the combinal tion with a solid crane bar of rectangular cross section having a recess in its bottom wall, of an extension sleeve of like cross section telescoping over said bar, said sleeve having on its bottom Wall an integral spring tongue engaged with said recess in the fully telescoped position of said Sleeve to yieldably lock said sleeve against outward movement, said tongue exerting a frictional drag on said bar when said sleeve is moved outwardly.

4. In an extensible curtain crane, the combination with a crane bar, of an inner sleeve telescoping over said bar, and an outer sleeve telescoping over said inner sleeve, said inner sleeve having opposed protuberances on the outer sides of side Walls integral with the latter in frictional engagement with the corresponding Walls of said outer sleeve.

5. In an extensible curtain crane, the combination with a crane bar, of an inner sleeve telescoping over said bar, said sleeve having opposed slots in the side Walls thereof, an outer sleeve telescoping over said inner sleeve, and a spring in said inner sleeve having portions thereof extending through said slots in frictional engagement with the side walls of said outer sleeve.

6. In an extensible curtain crane, the combination with a crane bar, of an inner sleeve telescoping over said bar, and an outer sleeve telescoping over said inner sleeve, said outer sleeve having an internal stop lug adapted to contact the outer end of said inner sleeve to limit the extent of inward movement of said outer sleeve on said inner sleeve.

7. In a curtain crane, the combination With a sleeve having a longitudinal slot in its top wall, and curtain rings on said sleeve, of an ornament having a shank driven into one end of said sleeve, and an upstanding lugf on said shank projecting through and above said slot, the portion of said lug above said slot serving to engage and detain an end curtain ring against sliding inwardly on said sleeve.

JAMES H. BOYE. 

